Unlocking Best-in-Class AP Performance: Automation Strategies and Metrics

SAP Concur published an article on AP automation strategies, metrics, and solutions. It notes AP has shifted from a back-office function to a strategic powerhouse, recommending tracking metrics such as invoice processing cycle time, cost per invoice, exception rate, touchless processing rate, and staff time on supplier inquiries. According to industry benchmarks, top performers achieve invoice processing time of 3.1 days, cost per invoice of $2.78, exception rate of 9%, touchless processing for nearly half (49.2%) of invoices, and 13.4% of time (5.36 hours weekly) on inquiries. The article also covers Concur Invoice's end-to-end automation and a roadmap from manual to touchless AP.